Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council

Resource Advisory Council (RAC) members present and category
represented:

Stephen Mellington Public at Large (Chair)

Dr. Colleen Beck Archeology/History

Don "Skip" Canfield State Agency Representative

Dr. John E. Hiatt Wildlife

Claire Toomey Permitted Recreation

Kenny Anderson Native American

Gracian Uhalde Ranching/Grazing

Resource Advisory Council members absent:

Douglas "Stretch" Baker Transportation/Right-of-Way

Joni Eastley Elected Official

Mark N. Ioli Mineral Development

Robert Maichle Environment

Billie Young Wild Horse & Burro

John Weisser Dispersed Recreation

Dr. Steve Parker Academic/UNLV

Bureau of Land Management representatives present:

Juan Palma BLM Las Vegas Field Office Manager

Hillerie Patton BLM Las Vegas Field Office PAO

Stephanie Connolly BLM Ely Field Office Acting Manager

Bill Dunn BLM Ely Assistant Field Manager Renewable Resources

Bill Fisher BLM Tonopah Field Station Assistant Field
Manger

Karen Eller BLM Tonopah Field Station PAO

Debra Kolkman BLM Nevada State Office RAC Coordinator

Shirley Johnson BLM Ely Rangeland Management
Specialist

Troy Grooms BLM Caliente Rangeland Management
Specialist

Public attendees:

Bob Wilson University of Reno, Cooperative Extension

Skip Canfield Maria Ryan University of Reno, Cooperative Extension

Lavar Wade Local Rancher

Ken Newby Local Rancher

A copy of each attachment is listed in the text of or at the end of these
minutes and is also on file with the official copy of the minutes in the Las
Vegas Field Office of the BLM. Persons desiring to review the minutes should
contact Hillerie C. Patton, public affairs specialist, at (702)
515-5046.

Chairperson Stephen Mellington called the meeting to order at
8:40 a.m.

Palma asked visitors to introduce themselves. The visitors were Kim
Dow, Management and Program Analyst for the Groundwater Projects Office at
the Nevada State Office and Mel Meier, a Presidential Management associate
from WO who is on detail to the Groundwater Projects Office until
September 30.

8:46 a.m. – Members joined the North East Great Basin RAC for a joint
meeting, minutes provided by Stephanie Trujillo of the Ely Field Office

11:35 a.m. –Members recessed for lunch, reconvening at 1:02 p.m.

1:02 p.m. – Members reconvened in individual RACs

1:02 p.m. - Mellington opened the Public Comment period

1:16 p.m. - No public comments received Mellington closed the public comment
period .

1:05 p.m. Review and approve the March 24, 2006 minutes.

Members reviewed and approved minutes with minimal changes

Canfield motioned to approve the minutes as amended Uhalde second. All
approved

1:08 p.m. - Palma updated RAC on the Recreation RAC

He reviewed the necessity of the recreation subcommittee. The purpose of
the recreation subcommittee is to provide guidance to the BLM and/or Forest
Service if the agencies chose to increase or implement new fees. The
subcommittee would be comprised of selected members from each Nevada RAC.
Currently, BLM and the Forest Service are working on a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU). Palma will update members on the status of the
recreation subcommittee during the Tri-RAC meeting in November. He stated
that not all of the details are worked out at this time. Kolkman said the
regulations state that the recreation subcommittee would need to meet at
least once per year; however, it could meet more. Mellington asked if this
subcommittee would only address fees. Kolkman stated that it includes new
fees or an increase of fees and they would be announced in the federal
registered six months ahead prior to implement changes and it would be
discussed during public meetings. Mellington asked about requirements for
having subcommittees in place. Palma said the goal was to have member names
to the full RAC and BLM by the Tri-RAC meeting. The group would vote at that
time. The BLM’s proposal is to create a subcommittee and each RAC makes a
proposal as to who will serve on the subcommittee. Mellington suggested
asking for people who have an interest in this topic. The subcommittee will
put together its recommendations and bring them to the RAC to make a
decision. Kolkman stated that the RAC members would decide what other people
may serve on the recreation subcommittee.

Fisher reviewed the proposed decision on the Magruder allotment. BLM
issued a proposed decision to Denver Square Trust and one stipulation of
this decision is that one pasture is to be set aside as a forage pasture
(in the case that an allotment is burned out somewhere else in the
state). The permittee will manage this pasture and there will be a two
month time period that another rancher can apply for that pasture, if no
one applies; the permittee can put cows out. The preference for this
allotment was lost because grazing rights were lost with the original
permittee. A letter goes out next week explaining what BLM is doing.
Then, BLM will issue a final decision and then if there are any appeals,
BLM will deal with them at that time. Hiatt asked if Denver Square Trust
bought water rights. Fisher said that yes, they had. Hiatt asked if they
are the same outfit that wants to put in a ski resort. Fisher stated
that they had mentioned something to that effect, but was not sure.
Fisher added that Denver Square Trust bought the Cottontail and will put
in a rest stop, truck stop, restaurants, etc there. The EA comment
period for the land sale in Fish Lake Valley has closed. As soon as the
appraiser signs them BLM can move forward on that issue.

University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) has submitted a Right-of-Way
(ROW) application for an underground test to be conducted near the
Nevada Test Site, located north of Beatty on Tolicha Peak Road. Several
R.O.W. applications for seismic refraction/reflection profiling project
have been submitted to the Ely, Las Vegas and Tonopah Offices. The
proposed project is used to gather earthquake data. The project consists
of drilling a hole approximately 75 feet in depth and filling with
explosives. The proposed shot is scheduled to coincide with the Divine
Strike project taking place at the Nevada Test Site. Beck asked if the
UNLV test was a very large test. Fisher stated that it wouldn’t be
incredibly large.

Round Mountain Gold Corporation (RMGC) will be submitting a plan of
operations for a combined mine expansion at the Round Mountain mine and
new mining operations at Gold Hill. RMGC will probably hire a project
manager to work out of the Tonopah Field Station for this project.

This will be the third year for the abandoned mine closure project.
Hiatt asked what the three-mile limit meant. Fisher explained that it
meant three miles around named town or area.

Fisher pointed out that he included a copy of the Rhyolite notes. He
added that it is a number one priority to get a water tank out at
Rhyolite for the volunteers. Engineers were out two weeks ago and
sighted a possible place to put the water tank. Fisher reminded members
that the next RAC meeting will be in Beatty and will include a tour of
Rhyolite in the early morning on Friday.

Hiatt asked about any spray operation for tamarisk in Beatty? Fisher
stated that there were no plans for one.

Palma reviewed the land sale in August and December. The December 6
sale will be larger and will be on the Henderson side of city.

Palma reviewed past land sales and explained how much was made and
how those funds were used. Hiatt commented on page three and noted that
less than 10% of the money has been transferred. He is worried that
money is coming in faster than it can be spent. He stated that some
proposals didn’t seem to be as fiscally responsible as they could be.
He cautioned what public reaction in the rest of country could be to
what seems to be frivolous spending. Palma stated this topic has been
discussed. Projects are waiting until they are completed until they
receive reimbursement. Hiatt stated that it’s still less than half.
Mellington asked if sales could be slowed down. Palma stated that
counties come forward to him with proposals. Mellington asked if BLM can
opt to "hold off" on sales so the incoming money slows down.
Palma stated that cadastral surveys are very backed up on these and this
could slow the process down. Hiatt showed concern about lack of
infrastructure for the parcels that are already sold. Palma stated that
it is a joint selection process and if an agency is not ready they
should say that they are not ready.

Ivanpah EIS is moving forward. McCarran airport has approximately 40
million people using it and it capacity is about 50-55 mill and will be
out of capacity soon. McCarran predicts it will have 80 million users
with in the next few years. Hiatt said McCarran won’t have third
terminal built before they are out of capacity. Palma gave an update on
what is currently being worked on: 15 + EISs, at various stages, 100+
EAs in Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO) and they have 500-700 ROW
applications at any given time. LVFO has a team of individuals who do
nothing but process R.O.W. for power lines. Palma stated that he is
currently looking into entering into partnership with Nevada Department
of Transportation (NDOT) to process R.O.W., etc. Beck asked about the
follow up on Cal Baird (Did he leave?). Palma stated that yes he did.
Hiatt stated that Baird had cleaned the area up nicely, but it still
needs some work, probably from a previous tenant before Baird.

Troy Grooms stated that this is a very complicated situation. Currently,
the burned area is closed for a period of three years or until objectives
are met. Fires can be kept down to a manageable level and a natural forage
base can be reintroduced. Using cattle or sheep to intensely graze an area
is the proposition he made. NDOW would have to agree to using sheep and this
is unlikely because of the possibility of domestic sheep passing viruses on
to the Desert Bighorn. NDOW is willing to try this type of cattle grazing on
a small scale. He stated that because of the severity of the situation BLM
needs to use "out of the box" thinking managing this issue. Lavar
Wade stated that he feels BLM is burning purposely to burn ranchers out. He
stated that he has seen BLM personnel starting fires. Toomey asked how red
brome and cheat grass got out of hand. Maria Ryan answered it was probably
due to the conditions getting better for it to expand. Bob Wilson stated
that what concerns him most is what is going to replace the red brome.
"The ones that will replace red brome will be more difficult to control
and much stronger. We need to be thinking out side the box as far as
management. The strategy of the plants from Asia is a better strategy than
the natives and how do we deal with these non-natives? How many cattle would
it take to do this and what do you do with them for the rest of the
year" A brief discussion ensued on the topic of what to do with this
issue. Ryan commented on what to do with the cows for the rest of the year.
She said that the Winnemucca district is grazing on 80 acres with 4000 cows.
Looking at fuels reduction, Palma gave an example of fire suppression.
Immediately BLM prepares a Wild Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA). This process
gives managers several scenarios for fire management. Uhalde thanked the
three presenters and asked if this RAC could help facilitate some adaptive
management with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Nevada
Department of Wildlife (NDOW), etc. to help this issue. Palma stated that he
would support this recommendation if this RAC would like to draft a letter.
Palma asked if this RAC would support the new ideas that have been
presented. Bill Dunn stated that there should still be more discussion to
this proposal. Hiatt commented that the RAC is in a position to monitor
suggestions and try new things outs. He stated that the RAC can support a
program of several different solutions to try various different grazing
option s and compare these options with the understanding that it all
depends on the amount of rainfall. Hiatt added that he recommended a
vigorous research program, with flexibility and monitoring. Palma asked for
a proposal from the RAC for a more comprehensive strategy. He also suggested
that the RAC produce a letter for the short term and add this topic to the
next agenda. A brief discussion ensued on the issue of how to approach this
topic. Ryan stated that Hiatt’s suggestion of doing long term monitoring
and trying different kinds of managing was a good one. Hiatt stated that
highly managed grazing has not been closely looked at in the West. Dunn
commented that the length of time Palma suggested was a good time frame and
that dialog needs to happen within the district before it is brought before
the RAC. More long term interest in terms of that research and monitoring.
What exactly is going to be answered out there? Mellington stated that this
RAC has a real interest in this issue and would like to be kept abreast of
this situation. Connolly stated that they will provide an update at the next
meeting, but would like to have more discussion before giving a proposal.
Mellington suggested creating a subcommittee to deal with this issue. This
subcommittee would likely consist of Hiatt, Uhalde, and will be opened to
the other RAC members not present. Dunn commented that there are certain
objections that need to be considered. Mellington stated that at a minimum,
the RAC should have an update in August.